Project (Task) Subtasks

The Task is organized in three Subtasks, derived from the above described objectives and goals. The integration problems related to the different technologies (product development, method of integration) are treated in subtask A. The balance issues between the different types of solar gains, related to energy and cost impacts, are treated in subtask B. Finally the architectural integration issue is treated as a whole in subtask C, based on case studies.

The objectives shall be achieved by the Participants in the following Subtasks and activities:

Subtask A: Criteria for Architectural Integration

This Subtask focuses on architectural integration of active solar energy products and systems since these are the least developed products for building envelope integration.
The objectives of this Subtask are:

Bring together architects and product/system developers to understand each others needs. Develop criteria for products and systems, aiming at integrating solar energy systems in high quality architecture. Give recommendations to the industry.

Educate/inform architects on integration characteristics for various technologies and on state of the art of innovative products.

The Participants shall achieve this objective by:

Identifying and differentiating between the technologies already mature or needing new developments.

Identifying the need for product development.

Industry workshops with architects and manufacturers presentations, as a basis for discussion. Through the workshops and interviews, identify barriers and define key factors for successful component and system integration.

Collaborating with architects, engineers and product developers to specify key issues and develop criteria for products and systems.

Studying and documenting good examples of products and systems.

Results will consist of:

Document for product and system developers that describes important architectural design criteria for different categories of solar systems.

Developed or new products/systems initiated by the Task (link to Subtask B; element libraries).

Dissemination of new knowledge to e.g. practicing architects through seminars and workshops.

Documents (articles, brochures) describing good examples of products and system integration in buildings.

Subtask B: Methods and Tools

This Subtask is focused on methods and tools for architects to use in the early design stage. The use of the building envelope to achieve a good balance of both active and passive solar utilisation will be considered. The work includes tool development and the use of tools to produce material for the Communication Guidelines (Subtask C).

The objectives are:

Define criteria for methods and tools to support architectural integration in the early design stage.

Focus on tools that help give an overview and evaluate the energy and cost impacts of various active and passive solar options for the building envelope.

Initiate the development/spread of design tools showing the visual impact of various solar options (elements libraries) and their influence on the energy balance of the building.

Provide tools for Subtask C to support communication activities.

Together with Subtask C, produce facts, illustrations and arguments to be included in the Communication Guidelines.

The Participants shall achieve this objective by:

Studying available methods and tools: Organize workshops with presentations of available tools and from the architect’s point of view discuss and document key features, what is already available and what could be improved. Identify if any lack of new types of tools.

Improving methods and tools, test within the Task and if possible test in ongoing planning of demonstration buildings.

Providing library elements (link Subtask A) to tool developers.

Using tools to produce facts, illustrations and arguments for the Communication Guidelines.

Results will consist of:

Improved or new methods and tools for architects for the early design stage. Tools supporting communication activities (link Subtask C).

Provide element libraries that could be used in design tools showing the visual impact of various solar options.

Convincing arguments and facts to be included in the Communication Guidelines (link Subtask C).

Subtask C: Concepts, Case Studies and Guidelines

This Subtask is looking at concepts for architectural integration as well as case studies, with a whole building perspective. The Subtask also condenses the results into communication guidelines, with support from Subtask A and B.

The objectives of this Subtask are:

Develop concepts and principles for high quality architectural integration of solar systems, based on analyzes of existing systems as well as proposals for future systems through national and later on international architectural colloquiums and workshops.

Develop building concepts that utilize active and passive solar energy, achieving high quality architecture, sustainable solutions and high energy performance. The developed concepts should aim at reducing the energy demand in buildings and increasing the fraction of renewable energy use such as solar energy.

Develop knowledge and strategies to promote and implement high quality architecture using solar energy.

The Participants shall achieve these objectives by:

Collecting good examples of buildings using solar energy and sort into a set of typologies (link to IEA SHC Task 40).

Present concepts, principles, potentials and exemplary buildings (a+b+c) in communication guidelines, in an IEA SHC web page, articles, architecture magazines, and at seminars for architects, engineers, component and system developers, clients, planners etc. The communication guidelines will include convincing arguments and facts with support from Subtask A and B.